The Duke Of Edinburgh Has Been Taking Part In The Team Driving Competitions Held On The Norfolk Showground

Scenes of the smartly turned out carriage and four horses driven by Prince Philip, and interview with Joe Moore.

Film to accompany an Anglia Television news story about the Duke of Edinburgh participating in a team carriage driving event at the Norfolk Showground. Prince Philip sits at the reins of a carriage and four horses with two grooms in attendance. After a countdown leader, more scenes of the carriage driven slowly and the judges inspecting the horses. Experienced competitor and administrator Joe Moore is interviewed. He says there are many ‘old whips’, experienced people taking part in carriage driving, and also up and coming talents including Karen Bassett. Asked how tough and dangerous the cross country sport can be, he says that no ponies or horses have been badly hurt, but the human competitors have had some broken and cracked limbs. He considers Prince Philip to be in the top three or four competitors in the country, and that he is in the sport to be competitive. The Duke is seen again manoeuvring the horses and carriage round a turn.

Keywords

Sport; Royalty; Carriage Driving; Horses; Horse Driving Trials

Background Information

Prince Philip helped develop the equestrian event of carriage driving. Carriage driving is a form of competitive horse driving in harness in which larger two or four wheeled carriages (often restored antiques) are pulled by a single horse, a pair, tandem or a four-in-hand team. In competitions the driver and horse(s) have to complete three tests: Dressage, Marathon, and Obstacle Driving. The International Federation for Equestrian Sports oversees International Shows. Pleasure competitions also have classes which are judged on the turnout, neatness or suitability of the horse(s) and carriage. Joe Moore contributed to the sport of carriage driving and horse driving trials as a competitor, as an organiser of events, and as an administrator and judge for the sport. While serving on the committee of the British Horse Society when the Horse Driving Trials Society was formed, he went straight onto its committee and remained there for the next 30 years, serving as Chairman for eight years from 1988-1996.